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Hypopnea is a partial blockage of the airway, and is a feature of a condition called obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome is a disease in which the airway is blocked to differing degrees, during sleep.

Apnea is a full obstruction of the airway when a person is asleep, and is another feature of the syndrome, which is more easily referred to as OSAHS.

During episodes of hypopnea, a person experiences a 10-second period when their breathing is reduced by 50 percent or more.

Both hypopnea and sleep apnea are serious medical conditions that can lead to other health complications.

In this article, we look at the effects of hypopnea, its symptoms and causes, and how it can be treated.

Causes

Risk factors associated with hypopnea include obesity and smoking.

OSAHS occurs when there is a narrowing of the airways leading to the lungs during sleep.

It often results when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much, which causes the airway to narrow and collapse. This prevents normal and regular breathing.

People with sleep apnea or hypopnea often have this disrupted breath for up to 30 seconds at a time.

During this time, the body and brain are not getting enough oxygen, which triggers the brain to wake up and start breathing again.

These periods of wakefulness are so brief that most people are not even aware they are happening.

Types of hypopnea

There are three different types of hypopnea:

Central hypopnea: Both airflow and breathing effort are reduced.

Obstructive hypopnea: Only the flow of air is reduced, not breathing effort.

Mixed hypopnea: There is a mix of both central and obstructive hypopnea episodes.

In central hypopnea, there are none of the signs of obstruction during periods of respiratory effort that are commonly seen during sleep apnea, such as snoring or a blocked airway.

Sleep apnea vs. hypopnea

Excessive daytime sleepiness may be a symptom of hypopnea.

Sleep apnea and hypopnea are very similar. In fact, hypopnea is a type of sleep apnea. The term hypopnea simply means abnormally slow or shallow breathing, while apnea means periods of no breathing.

The main difference between the two is further explained by the degree of blockage in a person's airway.

In sleep apnea, the airway is completely blocked while in hypopnea, the airway is only partially blocked.

The two conditions tend to occur together with many people who have apnea also having episodes of hypopnea and vice versa.

Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)

The Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) refers to the amount of apneas or hypopneas a person experiences per hour of sleep. A doctor can use a the AHI to determine the severity of hypopnea, as follows:

None or minimal: Less than 5 events per hour.

Mild: Between 5 and 15 events per hour.

Moderate: Between 15 and 30 events per hour.

Severe: More than 30 events per hour.

A doctor may also use the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) to determine the best treatment plan. The RDI includes other breathing irregularities, not just apneas and hypopneas. An individual's RDI may be higher than their AHI.

Symptoms of hypopnea

The symptoms of hypopnea are similar to those of obstructive sleep apnea and may include:

With mild hypopnea, lifestyle changes may be all that is necessary to manage the symptoms.

In cases of severe sleep apnea, these lifestyle changes should be used in combination with other medical treatments, as recommended by the doctor. They can help to reduce symptom severity and the risk of complications.

Prevention

In most cases of hypopnea, lifestyle changes can prevent symptoms from occurring or getting worse.

This is not true in every case, however, as some risk factors cannot be eliminated completely. It is still important to follow up with a doctor to manage the condition.

Treating the symptoms of sleep apnea or hypopnea can also help to reduce the risk of health complications from this condition.

Complications

Obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea are very serious medical conditions. Every time an episode of apnea or hypopnea occurs, the brain and body tissues are deprived of oxygen.

Without treatment, serious health complications can occur, including:

Daytime sleepiness

Daytime sleepiness or fatigue is not just an annoyance. It can cause serious safety problems, especially when someone is driving or operating machinery.

Daytime sleepiness can also lead to difficulty concentrating or performing at work or school.

Often, people with apnea or hypopnea report falling asleep while at work or while driving.

Heart problems

Falls in the blood oxygen levels that occur when breathing is interrupted can put a strain on the heart or blood vessels.

Risk factors

There are several risk factors that are associated with OSAHS, including:

Obesity: Many people with sleep apnea are obese or overweight. Carrying extra weight can cause fat to build up in the neck and around the airways, causing the throat to become blocked when someone lies down.

Narrow airway: Some people are born with anatomy that is small by nature. Tonsils or structures within the throat called adenoids can also be enlarged, which can narrow the airway.

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